T21 thinkpad display, operator error

[inthedark]

Please help! I accidentally disabled the display on my T21 thinkpad. It has windows XP Pro. When i turn it on the display shows the windows screen briefly then it returns to its luminated dark screen. I've tried using the narrator to navigate back to the control panel, settings tab, advance button, to get to the enable button, all unsuccesfully. also have attempted to use different settings on the bios/boot menu, also with no success. I am hardly qualified to even type on it let alone be messing with those type of settings. I use my new laptop to hunt for solutions for it, but since I cannot see on it, I am unable to use it to get on-line where I might be able to download something that might enable the display again. any help anyone might be able to share would be greatly appreciated. thankyou inthedark

[Neil]

Not sure that I understand what you are asking, but... Fn + F3 will shut the display off. Pressing Fn again will restore the display. Also, Fn + F7 cycles the display between internal only, external only and internal plus external, so might try a change there.

If that doesn't do it, maybe you are looking at a weak or failing lcd inverter, or ccfl. Have you tried connecting this T21 to an external monitor to see whats going on?

EDIT: Never mind, I just re-read your post. "illuminated" screen but blank, would not be an inverter or ccfl problem. Neither would shutting off the display with the Fn key leave it "illuminated", so I guess it could be either a problem with Windows or the HDD. Try booting a live CD instead of the hard drive and see what happens.

[Majestic]

Another option would be to boot the system into Windows Safe Mode and then use System Restore to restore the system to a point prior to the video problem.

[Mike Blake]

Do you see the initial IBM bootup screen? Can you enter Setup?

[inthedark]

yes, i see that screen and can enter setup. once the machine begins to boot i loose the display. i hit the disable this device button located in the display properties window settings tab, then monitor tab i think. i have no disk of any type, . im not sure where it is sitting now. i used to be able to enter my password ,wait a few minutes , then i could push ctrl&esc, then type r, then ctrl&esc, type narrator, push enter, activated the narrotor, to get me to the control panel and to the display icon. now allthe keys just beep when i try entering my password. the display is dark but has lumination. ive tried an external monitor but it doesnt display anything either.

[inthedark]

Not sure that I understand what you are asking, but... Fn + F3 will shut the display off. Pressing Fn again will restore the display. Also, Fn + F7 cycles the display between internal only, external only and internal plus external, so might try a change there.

If that doesn't do it, maybe you are looking at a weak or failing lcd inverter, or ccfl. Have you tried connecting this T21 to an external monitor to see whats going on?

EDIT: Never mind, I just re-read your post. "illuminated" screen but blank, would not be an inverter or ccfl problem. Neither would shutting off the display with the Fn key leave it "illuminated", so I guess it could be either a problem with Windows or the HDD. Try booting a live CD instead of the hard drive and see what happens.

neil thanks for the suggestions, however i have no disks of any type. i have tried an external monitor and recieved the same thing from it. just illuminated darkness. this happened when i accidentally pushed the disable button in the monitor properties window, located in the disply icon, from the control panel. im no longer able to access "run " to activate narrator or anything else at this point. access to setup menu, and boot menu is all i can achieve and see.

[inthedark]

Another option would be to boot the system into Windows Safe Mode and then use System Restore to restore the system to a point prior to the video problem.

have tried safe mode boot and same results, prior to this mistake i had tried to use system restore to reset the display,but system restore tells me it cannot restore to selected date. given only one date & time to choose from that option burned out quickly. thanks for your suggestions. guess ill go get a big hammer. it used to be my favorite machine, now i can only use my dell vostro, thanks again.

[RealBlackStuff]

Boot the machine, and start immediately to press F8 a number of times, till you get the Boot-menu.
Select Enable VGA Mode:, and see if that lets you in.